basic unit of matter

the center of the atom which contains the protons and neutrons; in cells, structure that contains the cell's genetic material (DNA) and controls the cell's activities

substance consisting entirely of one type of atom

atom of an element that has a number of neutrons different from that of other atoms of the same element

substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more elements in definite proportions

link that holds together atoms in compounds

bond formed when one or more electrons are transferred from one atom to another

atom that has a positive or negative charge

smallest unit of most compounds

a slight attraction that develops between the oppositely charged regions of nearby molecules

attraction between molecules of the same substance

attraction between molecules of different substances; in plants, attraction between unlike molecules

material composed of two or more elements or compounds that are physically mixed together but not chemically combined

mixture of two or more substances in which the molecules of the substances are evenly distributed

substance that is dissolved in a solvent to make a solution

substance in which a solute is dissolved to form a solution

mixture of water and nondissolved materials

measurement system used to indicate the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in solution; ranges from 0 to 14

compound that forms hydrogen ions (H⁺) in solution

compound that produces hydroxide ions (OH⁺) in solution

weak acid or base that can react with strong acids or bases to help prevent sharp, sudden changes in pH

small unit that can join together with other small units to form polymers

large compound formed from combinations of many monomers

compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms; major source of energy for the human body

large macromolecule formed from monosaccharides

macromolecule made mainly from carbon and hydrogen atoms; includes fats, oils, and waxes

macromolecule containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus

monomer of nucleic acids made up of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

single-stranded nucleic acid that contains the sugar ribose

nucleic acid that contains the sugar deoxyribose

macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen; needed by the body for growth and repair and to make up enzymes

compound with an amino group (−NH₂) on one end and a carboxyl group (−COOH) on the other end